EU requests establishment of arbitration tribunal over the UK’s prohibition of fishing of sandeel
Today, the EU decided to request the establishment of an arbitration tribunal under the dispute settlement mechanism of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) concerning the United Kingdom’s decision to prohibit the fishing of sandeel. The arbitration tribunal would rule on the compatibility of the measure with the TCA.
In effect since 26 March 2024, the prohibition of the fishing of sandeel in the English waters of the North Sea and in all Scottish waters prevents EU vessels from operating this sustainable fishery. The EU questions the compatibility of this prohibition with the TCA. For this reason, in April 2024, the EU requested consultations with the UK to find a mutually agreeable solution, formally initiating proceedings under the TCA dispute settlement mechanism. Consultations concluded without reaching such a mutually agreed solution, to which the EU remains open. The establishment of an arbit
ration tribunal constitutes the next step of the dispute settlement procedure.
When it comes to managing shared resources, all decisions taken by the EU or the UK must be non-discriminatory, proportionate to the objectives and based on the best available scientific evidence. The EU and the UK set fishing opportunities for sandeel on the basis of state-of-the art independent advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which allows for harvesting fish stocks at levels that allows them to reproduce at their maximum capacity and maintaining healthy population levels. The EU is committed to promoting environmental, social and economic sustainability. It acts to protect and restore marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries under the common fisheries policy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and in line with its commitments under the TCA.
Further background to this issue is available in the April 2024 press release on the opening of consultations.
(For more inform
ation: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: + 32 2 295 31 56; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Report highlights an increase in the Commission’s engagement with national parliaments in 2023
Today, the Commission adopted the 2023 annual report on relations with national parliaments and on the application of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles. This report highlights an increase in the participation of national parliaments in the political dialogue with the Commission, showcasing a total of 402 written opinions by parliaments to the Commission, a figure that stands over 10% more than that of 2022. It indicates that national parliaments continued to engage with the Commission on its political priorities, whilst paying particular attention to the European Green Deal, a new push for European democracy and promoting our European way of life. National parliaments also paid special attention to the 2023 Commission work programme, making it the most commented document, as well as the ongoing Russian war of aggres
sion against Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, reflections on the future of the Union, enlargement, migration and security.
The number of reasoned opinions by national parliaments indicating perceived breaches of the subsidiarity principle in Commission proposals amounted to 22. This number represents almost a third fewer than the 32 received in 2022, a figure in line with a long-term downward trend in this respect.
The report shows that Members of the College held 127 meetings with national parliaments. It explains the changes that several national parliaments have implemented to be earlier and better informed on the EU policy process, as well as how to express their views more effectively. Similarly, it points out that some national parliaments have started using the political dialogue in innovative ways. For example, one Chamber issued several opinions on the same proposal at different stages of the legislative process, and other Parliaments used joint opinions to collectively influence ongoing n
egotiations in their final phase. This illustrates the strategic potential and flexibility that the dialogue between the national parliaments and the Commission offers.
The 2023 report and its previous editions are available online.
(For more information: Francesca Dalboni – Tel.: + 32 229 8817; Saul Goulding – Tel.: + 32 229 64735)
Six scientists win European Research Council Awards for Public Engagement in Research
Professors Lucie Cluver, Frederic Dias, Tobias Hauser, Orla Muldoon, Philipp Stockhammer and Mathilde Touvier have each received the 2024 European Research Council (ERC) Public Engagement Award. Funded under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, the award recognises ERC grant recipients who have successfully engaged audiences outside their academic field. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony in Brussels last night. Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova said: ‘Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding effor
ts to make science accessible to the public. Their innovative approaches to engaging with diverse audiences demonstrate the power of research to inspire, educate and positively impact our communities. By taking scientific knowledge beyond academia, they bridge the gap between science and society.’ The six winners were selected by a jury of experts in public engagement and science communication from 99 applications from 20 countries. Each will receive a prize of pound 10,000.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +322 2991099; Roberta Verbanac – Tel.: +322 2982498)
Commission approves new geographical indication ‘Urbezo’ wine from Spain
The Commission has approved the addition of the wine product ‘Urbezo’ from Spain to the register of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
‘Urbezo’ is wine produced from grapes grown in the Ebro River basin in northern Spain. The wine is well-balanced with aromatic and fruity expression, good colour, very ripe tannins and characteristics that remain stable for a lon
g time.
Wine production is deeply linked to the area known as ‘Urbezo’, with documented evidence of wine-growing since the early 19th century. The peculiarities of the regional climate and soil, combined with the cultivation and production processes, make the wine unique and guarantee their quality. The production in the area is also geared towards making wine-growing more sustainable from the environmental, social and economic perspectives.
This new denomination will be added to the list of 3,631 agricultural products already protected. The list of all protected geographical indications can be found in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available online at Quality Schemes and on our GIView portal.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Thérèse Lerebours – Tel.: +32 2 296 33 03)
CALENDAR
Monday 28/10
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Bruges, Belgium: participates in the opening ceremony of the 75th academic year of the College of Europe.
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Copenhagen, Denmark
(until 29/10): holds a bilateral meeting with Mr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization.
Tuesday 29/10
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Copenhagen, Denmark: delivers a speech at the the opening high-level segment of the 74th session of the Regional Committee for Europe of the World Heath Organization.
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Source: Cyprus News Agency